York man sues sheriff, Hardee's

GAFFNEY -- A York County man who said he was arrested and accused of paying for a Hardee's breakfast with counterfeit money has filed a $1 million lawsuit as a result of the 2007 incident.

The paperwork was filed Wednesday in the Cherokee County Clerk of Court's office by Spartanburg lawyer Albert Smith.

The lawsuit seeks the amount as compensation for Frankie Adams. Named in the lawsuit are the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, CKE Restaurants Inc., CKE Holdings LLC, the franchise owner, and Leslie Wyatt, a restaurant employee.

The lawsuit alleges Adams cashed a check at a bank in York County on July 5, 2007.

Adams said he drove to the Hardee's on Cherokee Avenue in Gaffney, where he stopped for breakfast on his way to work. After he paid for his food order, Adams said Wyatt told him she had checked the money he used for payment. She said it was determined by using a special pen that the money was counterfeit, the lawsuit stated.

Deputies were called to Hardee's, where Adams was arrested. He was taken to the Cherokee County Detention Center.

Adams claims in the lawsuit that he was held for nine hours before a magistrate released him, informing him the reason for his arrest had been dropped.

In seeking compensation for the damages, the lawsuit also stated Adams was a victim of slander and emotional distress caused by the incident.

Smith, Adams and representatives of the defendants in the case could not be reached for comment.